logo
Giants' Buster Posey Sends Rafael Devers Message as Concerns Mount

Giants' Buster Posey Sends Rafael Devers Message as Concerns Mount

Newsweek18-07-2025
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The San Francisco Giants are emerging from the All-Star break with some clear playoff expectations after pulling off a surprising move well ahead of the trade deadline.
After adding win-now veterans like Willy Adames and Justin Verlander to the roster this past winter, president of baseball operations Buster Posey brought in franchise slugger Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox. Given that Devers is still owed more than $250 million, it was a clear sign that the Giants see themselves in the midst of a championship window.
Unfortunately, the early returns on the Devers trade haven't been great for the Giants.
Devers was slashing .272/.401/.504 for the Red Sox this season before the move and he has logged a .202/.330/.326 line with just two homers in his 109 at-bats with the Giants since then. Though it's too early to hit the panic button on the slugger, Posey attempted to reassure fans with a message about their new slugger as concerns grow.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 02: Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants reacts to a strike out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on July...
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 02: Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants reacts to a strike out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on July 02, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by) More
Petersen/Getty
"What can you tell fans about that very, very tough first month for Devers and how are you processing it?" Posey was asked during a recent appearance on KNBR radio.
"This guy's been in one organization his entire life," Posey responded, per KNBR. "Now to come over and everything is different. Not just the ballpark and teammates but where you're living. So it's an adjustment period. ... It's just a matter of time before he gets going."
Giants fans might be encouraged to remember Devers' slow start to this season, which gave way to an impressive hot streak just before he was traded. He was the first player in Major League Baseball history to record at least 12 strikeouts in the first four games.
For now, Posey and the Giants can chalk up the disappointing Devers debut to a natural lull, despite some growing concerns from the fanbase.
More MLB: Yankees' Aaron Judge Offers 3-Word Response on Breaking Babe Ruth's Franchise Record
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Wife detail comes to light as sacked Demons coach linked with two rival clubs
Wife detail comes to light as sacked Demons coach linked with two rival clubs

Yahoo

timea minute ago

  • Yahoo

Wife detail comes to light as sacked Demons coach linked with two rival clubs

The Sydney Swans and GWS Giants are being tipped as potential landing spots for Simon Goodwin after the coach was sacked by the Melbourne Demons on Tuesday. The premiership-winning coach was let-go after nine seasons in charge of the Demons, with speculation rife as to who will replace him at Melbourne. But there's also speculation about what Goodwin will do next, with claims he 'won't be lost to football for long'. Speaking on Channel 7 on Tuesday night, leading reporter Mitch Cleary pointed out that Goodwin's wife Kristine is based in Sydney, which could open the door for an assistant role at the Swans or Giants. Cleary believes Goodwin will take a short break, but will soon find a role 'without too long out of the game'. Cleary said on 'The Agenda Setters': "I believe that the Sydney clubs will make a big play for Simon Goodwin. 'Now his wife is a high-flyer in the Sydney finance world, and has been based in Sydney in recent times. The feeling is that the Swans and Giants will come hard for a person of Simon Goodwin's calibre, and we know that Sydney will have at least one, potentially two, openings under Dean Cox at the end of this year ... and there's potentially one at the Giants as well. So keep an eye on the Swans and the Giants for Simon Goodwin for his next move.' Cleary also wrote on social media: "Simon Goodwin's wife is based in Sydney. The Swans and Giants will sound out the departing Melbourne coach for a key role in their football departments. Both clubs have previously spoken of the challenges in attracting highly credentialed football people to Sydney." Have the Demons already contacted their next coach? Meanwhile, coaching great Paul Roos believes the Demons have already sounded out former Swans coach John Longmire. Adam Simpson and Longmire are both available, and have both been linked to the Melbourne job. Speaking on ABC Sport, Roos said he believes the Dees already have their preferred candidate lined up. 'I think the main reason (for sacking Goodwin) would be, John Longmire, Adam Simpson (are available)… that's the only thing I can really think of," Roos said. 'They've made the decision, they are going to do it, what do you do? You either let him go for the next three weeks, or you go now. Clearly the pros of getting rid of him now is your ability to go to the market really quickly without any other club impeding your quest for a new coach. If I had to guess why they would have gone early, I think that's the reason.' RELATED: Abbey Holmes responds amid backlash over decision post-birth Eagles face decision as Victorian club 'not prepared' to pay Harley Reid Roos previously worked with Longmire at the Swans, and believes he'll be keen to get back into head-coaching. 'I haven't spoken to him directly. When he made the decision to leave (the Swans), we all thought he'll have at least a year off,' Roos said. 'That year hasn't really expired yet, and there's been no need to ask the question because there have been no jobs available. I suspect that someone has made the phone call already from the Melbourne Football Club, because if they haven't, they are bereft in their duties. I think they've made a call or will within the next 24 hours and get an answer either way.'

Brittney Sykes trade details: WNBA All-Star goes to Storm from Mystics
Brittney Sykes trade details: WNBA All-Star goes to Storm from Mystics

USA Today

time3 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Brittney Sykes trade details: WNBA All-Star goes to Storm from Mystics

The Seattle Storm are adding some star power to their quest to contend with the WNBA's best this postseason. The Washington Mystics traded All-Star Brittney Sykes to the Storm on Tuesday as part of a move intended to shake up a playoff race that feels especially wide-open after the recent injury to Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier. The Mystics, who are in rebuilding mode sitting in ninth place in the WNBA standings, received the Storm's 2026 first-round draft pick, three-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark and guard Zia Cooke in the deal. Sykes is averaging 15.4 points, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 31.8% from beyond the arc. The 5-foot-9 guard received her first All-Star selection this season and has four WNBA all-defensive team selections during her nine-year career, which also includes stints with the Atlanta Dream and Los Angeles Sparks. She signed with the Mystics as a free agent ahead of the 2023 season. WNBA TRADE DEADLINE: 2025 candidates include Marina Mabrey, Aaliyah Edwards 'We're grateful for (Sykes') contributions this season as she played a key role in our growth,' Washington Mystics General Manager Jamila Wideman said in a statement. 'We're proud of the individual success she achieved during her time with us, including earning her first All-Star selection. This allows Slim the opportunity to join a team that is expected to contend for a championship this season.' The Storm are in sixth place in the WNBA standings with a 16-13 record entering Tuesday's game against the Lynx. They have lost three of their past four games, despite a couple prolific scoring efforts from Nneka Ogwumike. The hope is Sykes can provide a boost to the team's offense along with guard Skylar Diggins, forward Gabby Williams and guard Erica Wheeler. Clark played more than 300 career games over two stints with the Storm (2012-2020 and 2025) and helped the franchise win two WNBA championships (2018, 2020). She was named the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year as a member of the Las Vegas Aces when they won the league championship in 2023. The 38-year-old forward is averaging 3.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game this season. 'This was a great opportunity to continue building our program and move us closer to our long-term goals,' Wideman said. 'Alysha brings veteran leadership that in invaluable as our team continues to develop and grow.' The Mystics subsequently waived Cooke, a member of South Carolina's 2022 NCAA championship team who was the No. 10 overall pick by the Sparks in the 2023 WNBA draft. She is averaging more than 10 minutes per game in 2025 and shooting a career-high 38.2% from 3-point range. Washington also released Sika Kone to complete the transaction. The Mystics, losers in five of their past seven games, are now in possession of three 2026 first-round picks. Seattle still has two first-round picks in 2026 after previously acquiring them in deals with the Los Angeles Sparks and Las Vegas Aces.

More Home Run Derbies? MLB Teams Are Expanding on the All-Star Concept
More Home Run Derbies? MLB Teams Are Expanding on the All-Star Concept

Fox News

time11 minutes ago

  • Fox News

More Home Run Derbies? MLB Teams Are Expanding on the All-Star Concept

Maybe the Home Run Derby doesn't have to be limited to All-Star weekend. The Milwaukee Brewers had Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and several other former players competing in an alumni home run derby that followed a game with the Miami Marlins last month. The promotion helped draw a sellout crowd of 41,944 fans, with nearly all of them sticking around to watch the postgame event. Other clubs noticed, too. "I thought it was a great idea and applaud them," Arizona Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall said. "I believe all of us will be considering something similar." Brewers manager Pat Murphy is among those already has been conjuring up ways to expand on this idea. "I think it just opens the door," Murphy said. "Can you imagine the Brewers versus the Cubs home run derby — their three legends versus legends of ours. You know what I mean? Can you imagine that happening around the league?" The Brewers' home run derby occurred 11 days after Seattle's Cal Raleigh won Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby and 10 days after the All-Star Game was decided on a swing-off. With the game tied 6-6 after nine innings, three batters from each league took three swings and Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber homered three times to give the NL a 4-3 victory. Brewers president of business operations Rick Schlesinger said a half-dozen MLB teams reached out after their alumni home run derby to get information on how well it had worked. Milwaukee's promotion was part of a 25th-anniversary celebration of American Family Field. Keon Broxton, who played for the Brewers from 2016-18, won the event and recreated Fielder's most famous home-run celebration by standing tall at home while the teammates surrounding him fell back like a collection of bowling pins. "It was awesome," Broxton said afterward. Milwaukee wasn't the first team to do this kind of promotion. The Houston Astros staged their own alumni home run derby events in 2018 and 2019. The Atlanta Braves had an alumni softball home run derby last year. The format represents a different way to welcome back former players rather than having the traditional Old Timers' Day games from yesteryear. The New York Yankees are holding their first Old Timers' Day game since 2019 on Aug. 9, and the New York Mets are having an alumni game Sept. 13. But the Brewers' event last weekend generated plenty of national attention, particularly when highlights aired showing how the stands stayed packed throughout the event. "The guys that were all here, we all said we'd be back for anything like that, whether it's something like what Murph suggested or even keeping it in house and playing a couple-inning game ... maybe guys from 2005-10 against guys from 2010-15," said Casey McGehee, who played for the Brewers from 2009-11 and participated in the home run derby. "I think there's a lot of opportunity for some really cool stuff to come from it." Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said he didn't get a chance to watch the alumni derby that followed his team's game in Milwaukee, but he liked Murphy's idea about branching it out. "A big part of the beauty of our sport is how you remember those who played before, the history of our game and had success for your organization or those who made impacts throughout the league," McCullough said. "So anytime we get a chance to celebrate those who did meaningful things, I'm all for it." The trick in putting together an alumni home-run derby is finding the right participants. They must be old enough to have finished playing but remain young enough to still manage to hit batting-practice pitches out of a major league stadium. The Brewers didn't put up makeshift fences in the outfield for this event to make home runs easier, and the former players' swings weren't leaving the ballpark as often as when they were in the big leagues. McGehee believes future home run derby promotions could feature more power than what the ex-Brewers showcased last weekend. McGehee said he tried working on his swing before last week's event, but family obligations got in the way. If he gets another invitation, McGehee expects to be more prepared. "I think knowing what we know now, the product would probably even get better because we saw how cool that was," McGehee said. "I think people would be carving out pretty significant parts of their days to get themselves ready to roll." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store